The Goods Mart, an LA-based company, opened a New York location in the city's SoHo neighborhood in October.
Source: Grub Street
The company's first location sprang up in LA's Silver Lake neighborhood back in April of 2018.
Source: LA Times
There's also a WeWork down the street, one of the co-working company's many locations in the city.
Source: Google Maps
That means healthier and more environmentally-friendly options than what could be found at your average corner store, like a 7-Eleven.
Source: The Goods Mart
The website states that its products have no artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, or growth hormones. So think healthier versions of Starbursts and Snickers Bars.
Source: The Goods Mart
Next to the chip-lined shelves is a bulletin board inviting customers to pin things for everyone to see.
There's also a tablet displaying promotional videos from brands stocked in the store, like Clif Bar and Jackson's Honest.
You can also microwave a $5.50 burrito made by the creator of West Coast favorite, Burritos La Palma.
... or opt for a popular choice: A self-serve 8-ounce cup of regular joe, supplied by La Colombe Coffee Roasters. It costs $1.25.
Source: Eater
Rows of cups line the counter next to the coffee machine, just as you'd see in your average convenience store.
I was looking forward to one of the store's Kombucha slushies, which were also available at the company's Silver Lake store opening back in April.
Source: Fast Company
But the shopkeeper told me that their Kombucha slushies were more of a summer thing, so I went for what they had available: a Local Roots apple cider concoction. It was delicious.
Fear not! The store wasn't completely void of Kombucha. You can still buy a bottle of the fermented beverage if you please, sans the slushy consistency.
All of the veggies and fruit are "cosmetically challenged," provided by local companies whose deformed produce was rejected by bigger grocery stores.
Perhaps the biggest clue that this was not your average convenience store is the Gwyneth Paltrow-branded Goop product next to the deformed potatoes. I couldn't bring myself to pay $2.50 for "superpowder."
I also spotted some ingredients to make meals, like a box of organic pasta from local shop Sfoglini for $6.45.
There are wholegrain rice crackers, a reasonable alternative to something greasier and salty, like potato chips.
I knew I wouldn't leave without buying a bag of these chile picante-flavored plantain chips (spoiler: they're addicting.)
The shopkeeper told me that members from the nearby women's community, The Wing, come in often, as do employees from the WeWork on the corner.
I went with the plantain chips, a package of Justin's peanut butter cups, and a pack of Chewie Fruities. Everything was tasty. Maybe it was just because I knew I had shopped at a fancy, high-end convenience store, but I felt like I didn't have a junk food coma after the fact, like I would after eating food from a conventional store.
My total came out to $10.89 — probably more than what I would have spent on similar items at a convenience store like 7-Eleven.
The bag's design matches the store's criss-crossed ceiling display, a consistent theme in The Goods Mart's branding.
It'll likely be featured in future Goods Mart locations in New York, California, and Michigan where the founder plans to expand.
Source: Gothamist
